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Police make significant progress in London bombings investigation Dramatic developments today have revealed new information about last Thursday's bomb attacks on London. One person has been arrested after a series of raids in Leeds. Gas explosion in Russian shopping center kills 24 An explosion at a shopping center in the northern Russian city of Ukhta has resulted in several fatalities, a fire and dozens of injuries. Varying news reports indicate between 16 and 17 fatalities so far and that at least 30 people have been injured. The explosion occured in a shop called "Passazh" at 1:58pm local time (9:58am UTC). Local police have said that the explosion was caused by a gas cannister. Meth use now USA's top drug problem, survey finds Methamphetamine use is now the nation's most serious drug issue, according to a survey recently completed by the National Association of Counties (NaCO). Counties in the survey said that methamphetamine was their largest drug problem followed by cocaine, marijuana and heroin as the most problematic drug for each county.
Wikipedia Current Events
In Beirut, a bomb explosion injures pro-Syrian defence minister Elias Murr. According to the Cuban government, Hurricane Dennis killed 16 and caused $1.4 billion in damages. In Spain, a bomb explosion in Barcelona injures a policeman.

Wikipedia Current Events
Palestinian Islamic Jihad claims responsibility for two suicide bombings against Israelis. A car bomb detonates in the Shavey Shomron Jewish settlement on the West Bank causing no Israeli casualties. In Netanya, a suicide bomber kills three women at the HaSharon Mall. In Monaco, Prince Albert is inaugurated as ruling prince, in succession to his father Prince Rainier who died in April. The unmarried Prince Albert acknowledged last week that he has a 22-month old illegitimate son, Alexandre, and that there may be other paternity suits. In Singapore, president Sellapan Rama Nathan announces that he will seek re-election. Seventeen others have filed papers for candidacy. In China, the death toll of the Xinjiang mine explosion rose to 65. Eighteen are still missing. The European Court supports tighter controls over vitamin and mineral supplements. In France, bus company Transports Schiocchet Excursions is suing a group of cleaning women for operating a carpool using their own cars, on the ground of "unfair competition". In Washington, Presidential Press Secretary Scott McClellan refused for the second day in a row to respond to reporters' questions about Newsweek's revelation that Karl Rove disclosed the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame. McClellan had asserted Rove's innocence on many occasions in the past. The President, at a photo-op today, ignored reporters who asked if his pledge to fire any staffer involved was still operative. Stockholders of both Procter & Gamble and Gillette overwhelmingly approved a combination of the two huge consumer-product companies, although the deal faces regulatory scrutiny both in Europe and in the United States.

Ft. Wayne, Indiana burn center treats Afghan child

Doctors at the regional burn center at St. Joseph Hospital in Fort Wayne, Indiana are treating a patient flown in from war-torn Afghanistan.

U.S. Army's 113th Battalion, which is made up of Indiana National Guardsman, discovered five-year-old Zia after a propane explosion in suburban Kabul earlier this year destroyed homes and killed six of the boy's family members.

The blast left Zia with third degree burns on his arms, torso and legs. Guardsmen, familiar with the Fort Wayne burn center, worked with non-profit group, Northeast Indiana Burn Council to raised $18,500 to fly Zia, accompanied by his father Abdul Qahir, to Fort Wayne for treatment.

Upon arrival, he was rushed to the St. Joseph burn unit, where after a few days of recovery from travel, underwent his first surgery June 23. The second and final surgery was postponed nine days from an original date of July 2 because the boy developed an infection in one of his wounds, which is common for burn patients.

The second surgery grafted skin onto burn wounds on Zia's arm, chest and the second toe on his right foot. Tuesday, doctors said Zia was recovering and appeared to be in good spirits. In preparation for their planned return trip to Afghanistan in September, doctors are teaching Zia's father physical therapy techniques needed for further recovery. "Without good therapy, he could be right back where we started," Dr. John Mancoll, the lead surgeon on the case said in an interview with the Fort Wayne Journal Gazette newspaper.

Arrest over London bombing

British police have arrested a person in West Yorkshire in connection with the London bombings. The man will be transferred to London for questioning. Six houses were raided in Leeds and Luton.

The police conducted controlled explosions to gain access to a house in Leeds, and three controlled explosions were made on a car in Luton Station's carpark.

More than 600 people were evacuated near the six houses raided in Leeds and the police has seized either explosives or devices used to make bombs.

Inspector Miles Himsworth said that the raids were conducted by the Metropolitan Police Anti-Terrorist department with help from the Yorkshire Police and the Army Bomb Disposal Unit. He also said that the police were conducting a "careful and meticulous search".

Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair has confirmed that the operation "is directly connected to the outrages on Thursday". He added that "London, as well as New York" continue to be "major terrorist targets".

White House refuses to comment on Karl Rove as source of leak

In a televised report on CNN Tuesday morning, U.S. Senators John Kerry and Hillary Clinton expressed their belief that Karl Rove, a top advisor to President Bush, should be fired. Kerry spoke from the podium and answered reporters questions, while Clinton nodded in the background. Kerry spoke clearly for the removal of Rove, and reporters who noted Clinton's nods in agreement with Kerry queried her. She replied in support of Kerry's comments, "I agree with that."

The White House refused to comment Monday on Karl Rove’s involvement in the leak of the name of the covert CIA agent Valerie Plame. The New York Times reporter, Judith Miller, was jailed for violating a contempt of court order by refusing to testify about her source, and TIME magazine reporter Matthew Cooper also involved with withholding his source now appears ready to testify.

The leak of undercover CIA agent Valerie Plame's name two years ago by a member of the executive branch was in response to her husband disputing the Administration's allegations that Iraq was at the time attempting to buy so-called Yellowcake Uranium from countries in Africa. Her husband, a former ambassador under the first president Bush, Joseph Wilson has been proven correct in his assertions that Iraq was not attempting to gain or purchased Uranium from Niger.

White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan refused to comment on a series of questions which increased in intensity quickly during a July 11 White House Press Briefing. The inquiries were about whether the White House stood by an earlier comment that any official found to be involved would be fired, and also about when President Bush found out that Karl Rove, his deputy chief of staff, was involved.

During the most heated part of the exchange, David Gregory of NBC News called the refusal to comment “ridiculous.”

DAVID GREGORY: Scott, I mean, just -- I mean, this is ridiculous. The notion that you're going to stand before us after having commented with that level of detail and tell people watching this that somehow you decided not to talk. You've got a public record out there. Do you stand by your remarks from that podium, or not?

MR. McCLELLAN: And again, David, I'm well aware, like you, of what was previously said, and I will be glad to talk about it at the appropriate time. The appropriate time is when the investigation --

DAVID GREGORY: Why are you choosing when it's appropriate and when it's inappropriate?

MR. McCLELLAN: If you'll let me finish --

DAVID GREGORY: No, you're not finishing -- you're not saying anything. You stood at that podium and said that Karl Rove was not involved. And now we find out that he spoke out about Joseph Wilson's wife. So don't you owe the American public a fuller explanation? Was he involved, or was he not? Because, contrary to what you told the American people, he did, indeed, talk about his wife, didn't he?

MR. McCLELLAN: David, there will be a time to talk about this, but now is not the time to talk about it.

McClellan also refused to comment on whether or not President Bush had confidence in Rove as his deputy chief of staff.

UK Defence Minister alludes to possible Iraq troop reduction

The UK Secretary of State for Defence John Reid has admitted the withdrawal of 5,500 of the 8,500 British troops in Iraq by spring 2006 is a possibility. It comes after a report was leaked to the Mail on Sunday in the aftermath of the 7 July London bombings.

The document (Options for Future UK Force Posture in Iraq) was marked "Secret - UK eyes only" and also contained information on possible U.S. troop reductions, bringing the number of Coalition forces in Iraq down to 66,000. About 176,000 Coalition troops are presently in Iraq, 130,000 of which are from the United States Armed Forces. However, the document also reveals there is division between the Pentagon, which apparently favours a "relatively bold reduction", and U.S. commanders in Iraq who are more cautious.

The British Army is the lead component of the Multi-National Division (South-East). It has maintained forces in the 8,000+ region since the end of the 2003 Iraq War. In the document, Mr Reid admitted that a large reduction of British and U.S. forces would make it difficult for other countries to keep their force in Iraq.

Mr Reid, who took up the position of Secretary of State for Defence on 6 May 2005, admitted that the document was made by him for Prime Minister Tony Blair. In the document, Mr Reid stated that a decision would need to be made later this year on British forces levels in Iraq. The possible transfer of control of Al Muthanna and Maysan provinces, followed by Al Basrah and Dhi Qar provinces in 2006, were also included in the document. It estimated the reduction of British forces could save about £1 billion pounds (about $1.7 billion U.S. dollars).

In a statement on 10 July made in response to the leaking of the document, Mr Reid denied that the document signalled any change in policy, stating that, "No decisions on the future force posture of UK forces have been taken. But we have always said that it is our intention to hand over the lead in fighting terrorists to Iraqi security forces as their capability increases. We therefore continually produce papers outlining possible options and contingencies."

On 4 July, during a debate in the House of Commons, Mr Reid had hinted at possible reductions in forces, saying that, "By and large, about 12 [of 18] of the provinces are relatively free of terrorist attacks. As the Iraqi forces become trained to take the lead, it is possible, over a period of time, to hand the lead role to Iraqi forces in certain areas of the country and gradually, we hope, over the whole country."

A spokesperson of the MND (SE) was questioned by a Wikireporter. When asked whether speculation of reductions would affect British forces morale in Iraq, it was insisted that, "The British forces will continue to operate in the professional manner to which they always have done."

The spokesperson added, "No decision on the future posture of UK forces in Iraq has been taken. There has been no change in policy. Assisting the Iraqis to improve the security environment remains our top priority."

Speaking of the response by Iraqis to the London bombings, the spokesperson said, "Most of the feed back from Friday pray[ers] in the British Area of Operation were against the attacks on London."

This article contains first-hand journalism by a Wikinews Reporter.

Police make significant progress in London bombings investigation

Dramatic developments today have revealed new information about last Thursday's bomb attacks on London. One person has been arrested after a series of raids in Leeds.

The four men responsible for the bombings travelled by train from Leeds to King's Cross on Thursday morning, where they were seen on CCTV at 8.30am. Three of them came from Leeds while another joined them en route. One of the three from Yorkshire was reported missing by his family at 10pm that evening.

Three of them then boarded underground trains. At least one of them is known to have detonated the explosives he was carrying himself, dying alongside his victims outside Aldgate. Items belonging to the man were found in the debris of the train close to the seat of the blast.

It is unclear if the other two bombers were onboard the trains they attacked, but materials belonging to a third person where found, both at Aldgate and Edgeware Road. There is also forensic evidence tying the men to the scenes.

The fourth bomber - the man reported missing from Leeds - died onboard the bus, but there are no clear reasons for why he did not follow the same pattern as the others. Some of his property was found near the site of the explosion.

Police also found a car at Luton train station, which is on the route from Leeds to King's Cross. A series of controlled explosions was carried out on the car.

Materials used to make explosives were also found at one of the houses in Leeds.

Cuba declines American help for damage caused by Hurricane Dennis

As Hurricane Dennis rolls through the Carribean the death toll in Cuba has continued to rise. According to Cuba's communist president, Fidel Castro, the death toll of the hurricane has gone from 10 deaths yesterday to 16 deaths today. He explained the situation with a several hours long speech which commenced Monday evening and continued on until Tuesday morning. In the speech Castro estimates in total $1.4 billion US in property damage. He also stated the hurricane damaged 120,000 homes, 15,000 of which were destroyed and stated that the citrus crops were wrecked by the 240km/h winds of the hurricane.

Castro has rejected a $50,000 offer of aid from the United States. Castro explains that he won't be willing to accept the any aid until the U.S. lifts the trade embargo on his country. Castro claims the embargo is "genocidal" against his people. He has also said that aid from other countries that have similar trade embargos with Cuba and will only be accepted by nations that do not have such arrangements.

Suicide attack hits mall in Netanya, Israel

Four people were killed today at a suicide bombing near a shopping center in Netanya. One of the dead was the suicide bomber. 90 others were injured, 5 of them seriously. Islamic Jihad has claimed responsibility for the attack in a phone call to Reuters' Tulkarem office and identified the bomber as Ahmad Abu-Halil of Tulkarem.

At about 6:35 PM local time (UTC +3), Abu-Halil detonated himself on a crosswalk, after approaching a group of four young women, French tourists according to some of the reports, who were crossing the road. Apparently, three of them were killed. Nearby automobiles were also damaged from the explosion, and some of the shopping center's windows were shattered. Local police said that the bomber carried around 10Kg of explosives, as well as nails and metal pellets, on an explosive belt that was strapped to his body. Netanya's mayor, Miriam Fierberg, was present on the scene of the attack and immediately began assisting the injured.

The Palestinian Authority (PA) condemned the attack. PA official Jibril Rajoub called it "hurtful to our cause" and chief negotiator Saeb Erakat said that "those who carried out this attack want to sabotage the efforts being exerted to have a smooth and peaceful disengagement from Gaza and a revival of the peace process".

The Israeli government on the other hand alleges that the PA is not doing enough to stop terrorism. "Israel has done all it could to ease up Palestinian needs but the PA has not fulfilled obligations undertaken at Sharem al Sheikh and shows no signs of doing so" said David Baker, an official in the office of Prime minister Ariel Sharon.

In light of the bombing, Israeli defence minister, Shaul Mofaz, cancelled a meeting with the Palestinian minister for civil affairs, Mohammed Dahlan, set for this evening to coordinate various issues regarding Israel's withdrawal from the Gaza Strip.

This was the third attack in Israel in one day. Earlier this morning two Israeli soldiers were injured when a bomb was detonated near the automobile they were driving near Netzer Hazeni in the Gaza Strip. Minutes before the attack in Netanya there was another attack attempt when a suicide bomber drove a stolen truck loaded with explosives into a civilian settlement of Shavey Shomron in Samaria, but he detonated the vehicle without harm to anyone but himself. The bomber was injured and is being treated at a local hospital.

Building in Barcelona damaged by explosion

The Italian Cultural Institute in Barcelona was damaged today by an explosion. One Italian police officer was injured. Staff at the Institute discovered a suspicious object and called police. Police then arrived with a bomb squad and bomb-sniffing dogs. The explosion, described as small by Italian Embassy spokesman Filip La Rosa, occurred while police were investigating the object.

London bombing: Police search houses in Leeds

West Yorkshire Police searched six houses in Leeds today in connection with the London bombings. The raids began at 6:30am BST this morning after warrants were issued under the Terrorism Act 2000. Police are still in attendance at one property, and are describing the searches as significant, and "intelligence led".

Access to one house was gained using a robot-deployed controlled explosion.

London Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Ian Blair said that the operation "is directly connected to the outrages on Thursday".

This article contains first-hand journalism by a Wikinews Reporter.

Intel's offices across the EU raided

Local Law enforcement officials acting on behalf of the European Commission raided offices of Intel and several computer makers this morning, a spokesman for the EU said. He did not specify which countries or which other firms were involved. However, a spokesman for Intel Germany, Hans-Jürgen Werner, said that Intel's offices in Munich and Swindon where among those searched.

The raids are most likely connected to an ongoing anti-trust investigation against Intel by the EU. It is alleged that the company used its market dominance to bully its clients into buying its chips instead of AMD ones. Intel is denying the allegations.

Four explosions at Spanish power station

Four explosions have rocked a brand new, soon to be online power station in Spain's Basque reigon in the city of Amorebieta.

Shortly before the blasts, warning calls were made to Basque newspaper Gara and the Basque emergency road service known as DYA, police rushed to the scene and evacuated workers. The calls were made by the Basque separatist group ETA.

There are no confirmations of injuries or structual damage from the blasts at the moment. Spanish radio however reports that there were no injuries and some minor structual damage. Witnesses to the explosions say they were small.

Warning calls before blasts are common by ETA, usually Gara will get the call.

The plant is run by ESB International.

False security alarm in Bradford, England

On Monday, Brittania House in Bradford, UK was closed due to a security alert. A Wikinews reporter recieved notification that the Yorkshire Building Society Howard House Branch was closed until further notice. This turned out to be an evacuation of a small area due to a suspect package. It was a false alarm.

Britain has been in an increased state of vigilance since last Thursday's attack with fifty security alerts on the Tube according to Metro newspaper and the evacuation of Birmingham city centre on Saturday night.

This article contains first-hand journalism by a Wikinews Reporter.

Tropical Storm Emily forms in mid Atlantic, threatens North and Central America

Just as Hurricane Dennis dissipates over the mid-west United States on Monday, Tropical Storm Emily formed in the mid-Atlantic. Its current location is 11.1° N, 52.8° W, about 475 miles (765 km) east-southeast of Barbados.

The storm is currently moving west at a rate of 13mph/20kph. It is expected to make a slight turn to the north-northwest on Tuesday. Maximum sustained winds are currently at 45mph/75kph.

Hurricane watches have been issued for Barbados, Grenada, The Grenadines, St. Vincent, and St. Lucia.

PRIDE Critical Countdown 2005 results

Japan's Saitama Super Arena played host to a soldout crowd of 45,102 mixed martial arts fans, eager to see the second portion of the PRIDE Fighting Championship Middleweight Grand Prix on June 26th. Fans in the west had to wait until the Pay Per View aired on July 1st, but most agree that it was well worth the wait.

The main events featured the remaning eight contenders from April 23rds 'Total Elimination 2005', held at the Osaka Dome.

Main Events

Kazuhiro Nakamura vs Wanderlei Silva

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Kazushi Sakuraba vs Ricardo Arona

“The Demolition Man” Alistair Overeem vs Igor Vovchanchyn

Non GP Events (Superfights)

Sergei Kharitonov vs Pedro Rizzo

Ibragim Magomedov vs Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic

Kiyoshi Tamura vs Makoto Takimoto

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs Pawel Nastula

Abreu smashes records, wins Home Run Derby

Bobby Abreu, welcome to the spotlight.

The Philadephia Phillies star, now 31 and a two-time All-Star, has produced well for the Phillies over the last half a decade without the glamour of other top players. However, last night there was no denying that he was the star of the show.

And what a show it was. The first batter in the 2005 Home Run Derby, Abreu proceeded to shatter the previous record of 15 home runs in a round, belting 24, including a 517-foot moonshot that exited the stadium in right field, going through two bats in the process. This rampage came immediately after ESPN announcers Chris Berman and Joe Morgan described Comerica Park, the site of the Derby, as a difficult park to hit home runs in.

In the second round, Abreu edged past Boston's David Ortiz (who himself hit an astounding 17 homeruns in the first round) and Milwaukee's Carlos Lee to earn a spot in the finals alongside Detroit star Ivan Rodriguez. Rodriguez, who snuck into the second round with 7 dingers, swatted the most in the second round, but his home-field advantage deserted him in the finals as Abreu smashed 11 over the fences to win the Derby for his native Venezuela.

Abreu's three-round total of 41 homers broke Miguel Tejada's record of 27, set last year in Houston's Minute Maid Park.

Former Sudanese rebel leader John Garang sworn in as vice president of Sudan

Former Sudanese rebel leader John Garang was sworn in as vice president of Sudan as part of the agreement ending the Second Sudanese Civil War. He is the first vice president the country has had.

As well as the vice presidency, Garang will have control over the autonomous southern region of Sudan.

"I John Garang Demabior swear by almighty God that as the first vice president of the Republic of the Sudan, I shall be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Republic of the Sudan." He said.

Padraig Harrington withdraws from British Open

Padraig Harrington, an Irish golfer currently ranked ninth in the Official World Golf Rankings, has pulled out of the British Open at St Andrews to be with his family. The top golfer's father, Patrick, passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer. Harrington's place in the competition will be filled by Sweden's Henrik Stensen.

Patrick Harrington who was a former garda, was diagnosed with cancer in March when Padraig won his first US tour title. Patrick who was 72 played in two All-Ireland Football Finals with Cork.

Padraig Harrington, who turns 34 next month, has played on three Ryder Cup teams for Europe and has won numerous European and international competitions.

Today in History
1174 - William the Lion, a key rebel in the Revolt of 1173-1174, was captured at Alnwick by forces loyal to Henry II of England.

1772 - HMS Resolution set sail from Plymouth, England, under the command of Captain James Cook.

1793 - Jean-Paul Marat, a leader in the French Revolution, was murdered in his bathtub by Charlotte Corday.

1878 - The major powers redrew the map of the Balkans in the Treaty of Berlin.

1985 - Live Aid benefit concerts, organised by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia, was held in London and Philadelphia.

July 13 is Bon Festival in Japan

Quote of the Day

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please everybody." ~ Bill Cosby

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